Jonathan Cantwell (Kahala-La Grange) of Australia had to wait several minutes for judges to sort out a controversial finishing sprint before he was finally awarded top honors at Tour of Virginia's stage 6 criterium, finishing the 32-lap, 35.2-mile course in 1:18:20.

A razor thin margin in the general classification between first place Javier Zapata (CAICO) and second place Alejandro Borrajo (Rite Aid Pro Cycling) combined with a field of racers eager for a stage win to create an aggressive, thrilling, and suspenseful race.

Breaks came early - one right after another, again and again - and the peloton stretched out several blocks long at times, but each attack was eventually hunted down by the hungry pack.

On the final meters of the final lap, Kayle Leogrande (Rock Racing) nudged past Cantwell and crossed the finish line first, immediately followed by Cantwell who raised his hand in protest.

Shortly after the race, Cantwell met Leogrande in the finish area and told him that he would not pursue a formal protest for what he believed was an illegal last-second maneuver by Leogrande.

However, officials reviewed the matter on their own and ultimately ruled that Leogrande did in fact violate race rules when he "broke his line" to cut in front of Cantwell at the finish, according to chief referee Beth Wrenn-Estes.

Officials relegated Leogrand, which cost him the podium and automatically bumped Cantwell into first place for the stage.

"The judges did their job, and I'm happy for the win," said Cantwell after learning about the decision.

The controversy did not seem to tarnish the sweetness of victory for Cantwell. "I've only been in the U.S. for a week and I've got three wins," said Cantwell, referring to his 3rd place finish in the stage 2 criterium and his 1st place stage win in yesterday's road race. He described his success at Tour of Virginia as "surreal."

The violation also moved Jesse Anthony (Kodak Gallery/Sierra Nevada) into 2nd.

"We started making a move about 500 meters out," said Anthony as he explained his team's concerted effort to position itself for a win. "Mark (Walters) did an awesome job," Anthony said, giving credit to his teammate who attacked throughout the race.

Leogrande's violation had dramatic implications in the already dramatic general classification, too.

GC leader Javier Zapata (CAICO) began the day leading the GC by a narrow margin over second-place Alejandro Borrajo (Rite Aid).

Had judges not relegated Leogrande, Alejandro Borraojo (Rite Aid) would have finished 4th. Instead, Borrajo placed 3rd, earning Borrajo a four-second time bonus to bring him tantalizingly close to GC leader.

Unfortunately for Borrajo, Zapata craftily mitigated the damage earlier in the race by launching past Alejandro to earn the six-second sprint bonus.

Like Leogrande, Zapata's sprint was shrouded in controversy since it appeared that Zapata's teammates may have gotten away with illegally boxing in Borrajo as Zapata passed.

Race officials agreed with Wirsing's and Rite Aid's stance, but were unable to anything about it.

"It sure looked like a violation to us," said Wrenn-Estes. "But we couldn't see any numbers and couldn't verify any numbers on the camera to make the call," said Wrenn-Estes.

Through a translator, Zapata insisted the move was "clean" and just a part of racing in an all out sprint.

In the end, CAICO and Zapata adeptly accomplished their mission to defend the Natural Bridge Race Leader's Jersey .

Cantwell unseated Alejandro Borrajo as the top sprinter and will wear the Peaks Coaching Group Sprint Leader in tomorrow's final stage.

In addition to the GC jersey, climber Zapata maintained his hold on the Augusta Medical Center King of the Mountains Jersey.

The Harrisonburg tourism office reported an estimated crowd of 3,000 people gathered to cheer the racers this evening along a course that started and finished in Harrisonburg 's historic Court Square.

"We couldn't be happier with the turnout, and the crowds definitely got what they came for" said Matt Butterman. "We witnessed a very tactical, aggressive race today" Butterman said. "The race is very much in contention heading into Charlottesville [for Sunday's final stage 7]."